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Author
Topic: LIFE INSURANCE (Read 7515 times)

Does anyone know of a Life Insurance Company that will take people with HIV & Hep C. I am 55 y o male who has no family. I live alone and have not worked since 2005. After all these years, is there someone who can please let me know what can I do?

With Mutual of Omaha you can get up to $25000 of life insurance with no medical exam and no medical questions. I have one of these policies. New York Life also has one of these. I belong to AARP but you do not need to belong to AARP to benefit. Google either or both of these companies.

Yeah I have the Mutual of Omaha no exam policy (along with a pre HIV policy), the Mutual of Omaha just wont pay out in full for the first 2 years, afterwards it's 100%. I pay about $60/mo. for the Mutual Omaha

I am 55 y o male who has no family. I live alone and have not worked since 2005.

Why do you need life insurance? From what you said, you have no dependents and are on a limited budget.It sounds like you'd be better served spending the premiums on your own needs or giving them to the ultimate beneficiary while you are both around to enjoy it.

Paying funeral/burial/cremation expenses? I think there are other ways of doing this (pre-paying, which I believe some firms will do, dunno for sure) but I don't think most people fancy the idea of being buried in Pauper's Field (or whatever it's called locally).

Life insurance is something I definitely need to look into. I don't want my daughter getting stuck paying to clear up whatever mess I leave behind, including disposing of my earthly remains.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Paying funeral/burial/cremation expenses? I think there are other ways of doing this (pre-paying, which I believe some firms will do, dunno for sure) but I don't think most people fancy the idea of being buried in Pauper's Field (or whatever it's called locally).

Life insurance is something I definitely need to look into. I don't want my daughter getting stuck paying to clear up whatever mess I leave behind, including disposing of my earthly remains.

Yes, you can make pre-paid arrangements for cremation, etc. I suppose simply having enough money in your savings account when you croak may work too.

Yes, you can make pre-paid arrangements for cremation, etc. I suppose simply having enough money in your savings account when you croak may work too.

I suppose that would work too, but when you live hand-to-mouth it can be super difficult to get enough savings in your account to amount to much. Also, if you're on assistance, you're often only permitted a certain amount of savings which isn't much, at least where I live. Last time I looked into burial/cremation expenses where I live, I just about had a heart-attack. Ironic when you think about it.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I suppose that would work too, but when you live hand-to-mouth it can be super difficult to get enough savings in your account to amount to much. Also, if you're on assistance, you're often only permitted a certain amount of savings which isn't much, at least where I live. Last time I looked into burial/cremation expenses where I live, I just about had a heart-attack. Ironic when you think about it.

wut

If you can afford $60/mo for life insurance I would think you could afford pre-paying for cremation. That doesn't count as "savings".

And if you're not on public assistance then you can just have money in savings, or some other financial instrument.

Still, the OP says they have "no family" -- obviously this at least means children, but also potentially no survivors at all. No parents or siblings -- if so, and if on limited income, why waste money at all? Why care what happens to your cold corpse?

Still, the OP says they have "no family" -- obviously this at least means children, but also potentially no survivors at all. No parents or siblings -- if so, and if on limited income, why waste money at all? Why care what happens to your cold corpse?

Personal responsibility pops to mind. The peace of mind that comes with knowing how your remains will be treated might also be a reason.

Having said that, $60/mo or $720/yr seems a little steep for a $25,000 policy. But if you pay into the policy for less than 34 years, you are money ahead.

Even so, the policy would have to specify a beneficiary. Presumably, that would be the person who is going to oversee your "final arrangements."

Logged

It goes like thisThe fourth, the fifth,The minor fall, the major lift,The baffled king composing Hallelujah!

I guess it will cost something to get rid of my body. Wouldn't it be grand if I just flew off a cliff skiing (and nobody knew where so there were no search or recovery costs), or disappeared deep into the ocean, and there was no burial costs. No plots. Its so strange here in switzerland - if you get buried and you're an average person, you only stay in the ground a few decades. Then your grave is dug up, disposed of, and the space is reused. On the good side, the cemetaries are spectacular with gorgeous landscaping, manicured trees, and 4 seasons of planted flowers! Very few people have permanent graves.

In my case, and many others?, the logistically bigger and sadder task will be getting rid of all my worldly possessions. This wasn't fun when my Uncle died - nobody wanted any of it. It was sad and somewhat disrespectful throwing away everything he cared about. It was better when my greatgrandma died, there was plenty of stuff everyone wanted. And a house! Everyone loves a decent estate check! Or, just a nice old easter majolica plate. An art deco vase of no great value except its great to look at. An old brass lamp. Etc etc.

I'll have no property and all my crap will likely be here in Switzerland, far from my family. I'll have to leave someone some money to clean up my trace but as things stand, there will be no great savings accounts, no stocks, no nothing really. Endless divine nicknacks that only delight my eyes, while I'm still living.

These are interesting, existential questions.

My ancient grandmother has had the unique privilege and pleasure of being of very sturdy German stock. She used to have her share of worldly possessions and over the years of her 70's, 80's and now 90's, reduced it all to her simple lifestyle of today. The jewelry she herself received from her aunt, also lived forever. Great great aunt started giving it away in her 60s. My grandma bought her plot years ago, when my grand pa died. She was 50. She pre-paid for her funeral in recent years. Its going to be rather nice to go say goodbye to a most beloved grandma, at her funeral and have her simply be gone without a big expense or clean up task. She has no more money, just what she needs to live to the end. I mean it would be great to be looking at an inheritance but its also quite lovely that we just have had her lovely self, all these decades, and no selfish other concerns. I am thinking of Brooke Astor, who loved giving it away for decades and decades, but also still had a lot when finally in her very late 90's she went senile. Her son started stealing all her possessions and looting her accounts before she was dead. It was deplorable.

« Last Edit: September 19, 2012, 07:57:11 PM by mecch »

Logged

ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

If you are looking for modest amounts of coverage as burial insurance, some credit unions give away small amounts ($1,000) free as a benefit of membership.

Mine does -- It's really a marketing partnership with an insurer that wants to sell insurance in larger amounts -- if you take the $1000 coverage they then try to sell you a larger amount, but you don't have to sign up.

PM me if you want the details of the credit union -- this is one of the larger one's that is open to just about every one.

Seroconverted: Early 80sTested & confirmed what I already knew: early 90s

Current regimen: Atripla. Last regimen: Epzicom, Sustiva (since its inception with NO adverse side effects: no vivid dreams and NONE of the problems people who can't tolerate this drug may experience: color me lucky )Past regimensFun stuff (in the past): HAV/HBV, crypto, shingles, AIDS, PCP

That's hillarious stuff. What do they do with your remains once they dig you up?

-W

My uncle died in Amsterdam in the early 90's. He wanted to be buried there (he had married a local), so he was. 10 yrs later, my father and his siblings had to go take his remains from that burial spot. He is now in a Veterans Cemetary in RI.

How many of you guys care (or dont) about what happens with you after you die?

I just read this thread and haven't really thought about it, but it seems strange to me to spend/save money, while alive, on your death, unless of course you want something specific done with your remains.

And I've left instructions that my corpse's body powder be flushed down a toilet.

I want my ashes to be dumped over the side of a local fishing boat, just off the coast alongside Peel Castle. I'll be joining quite a few other ex-fishermen, so I'll be in good company.

There's an insurance company in the UK that will sell you a life insurance policy for a very reasonable monthly payment - once you're over 50. There are no health requirements, but the payout isn't all that big, although it's enough to cover burial/cremation costs at least. I nearly forgot about this until this thread reminded me today. I'll be turning 50 in November, so they'll be hearing from me soon. Now I just have to get over the senior moment I'm having and remember the company's name.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Many of these central and northern European cultures are very practical. The cemetery serves bereavement needs of close surviving family well enough in only a limited number of years, cause after that they will be dead too. Also, I think there are space limitations. Netherlands is one of the densest nations on earth.

My dad asked to be cremated and thrown away. This horrified my mom who whet further, after my dads death, by putting his ashes in the ground, which I know he didn't want. Who cares, she's alive and its her bereavement.

There was a place in the Swiss Alps where you could throw your tanties cremated remains into a deep chasm but hey closed it. My uncle wanted to be scattered on a beach and thrown into the Long Island Sound but its ILLEGAL so a family member did this quietly anyway.

I would be far more touched if someone wanted my collection of French oyster plates, or some other such of my collections, how about my two shoe boxes of mid century mens pocket squares, and used it and enjoyed it after my death as I do now, than worrying about my coffin or burial plot.

« Last Edit: September 20, 2012, 04:13:11 PM by mecch »

Logged

ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

I really cant say I have any wishes for my remains one way or the other , it simply doesn't matter to me .

When I lived in California a friend who had passed wanted his ashes put in the harbor he loved to visit . We took him down there , said a few words and poured him in . The problem was it was a bit windy that day and most of him ended up right smack in the face of a startled harbor seal that came from under the wharf . It scared the heck out of us and we ran away screaming as loud as the seal with a face full of our friend .

When my dad died I had him cremated , after a quick service I had a caterer make his favorite food and served his favorite wine for his friends . A few family members didn't think it was appoperate but I know he would have been proud to be celebrated in that way .

When my dad died I had him cremated , after a quick service I had a caterer make his favorite food and served his favorite wine for his friends . A few family members didn't think it was appoperate but I know he would have been proud to be celebrated in that way .

What was inappropriate?

Logged

ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

It wasn't your typical southern idea of a funeral I suppose . There were few family members who started to say something negative about serving wine but I was polite and told them I prefer laughter over tears and went on my way to mingle . I got far more compliments on my choices than anything else .

Fortunately, I have life insurance through work at 1x my salary - with mom as beneficiary right now (so, if I kick the bucket, she will be alright for a little bit)...

I bought my mother a policy that I pay on monthly (NY Life - through AARP) - there was no medical exam or medical questions.... It is a $10,000 policy and I pay $62 a month. They consider any policy w/o medical exam/questions as a "higher risk" policy....

But there was no way to get her another policy (the cheaper ones with higher payout, lower premiums and medical exams/questions) as she is a two time cancer survivor and has insulin dependent diabetes. It will be just enough to have a basic funeral (at this time) - but definitely won't be enough down the line.

My dad's cremation and one day service (held at his church) with no frills was just over $6,000. He had a $5,000 policy through a company called Stonebridge - which tried to not pay on his policy - until we threatened to get their license to sell in Florida yanked and filed a complaint with Florida Insurance Commission. Luckily, my brother and sister both work in upper management for a large insurance company and know the ins and outs of the business so they were able to put the company in check. If you know anyone who has Stonebridge - I would strongly suggest getting rid of them - as most online reviews also say that they try to get out of paying death claims.

For me, I haven't decided if I want cremated or buried (leaning toward cremation) - and a military funeral (which I am entitled to after serving 3 years in Army)... I do have a DNR order - and a living will - as I have no desire to be put on artificial breathing machines, feeding tubes, etc that prolong life (particularly if there is no chance of me recovering and having any positive quality of life) - For me, quality of life is much more important than quantity.

When I lived in California a friend who had passed wanted his ashes put in the harbor he loved to visit . We took him down there , said a few words and poured him in . The problem was it was a bit windy that day and most of him ended up right smack in the face of a startled harbor seal that came from under the wharf . It scared the heck out of us and we ran away screaming as loud as the seal with a face full of our friend .

LOL!

The skipper of one of the boats I worked on was asked by a friend's family if he would help them take their loved one's ashes out to be scattered at sea (behind Peel Castle, like I want). My skipper asked me to help out, casting off and making cups of tea and manning the wheel house while he participated in the ceremony.

I duly wore all black and turned up at the appointed time at the breakwater. Because there happened to be a lot of visiting boats in that day, we were tied up outside three other boats. It was the closest we could get to the area of the breakwater where there were steps, so the bereaved didn't have to climb down a ladder in addition to climbing over boat rails. I was appointed to help people get from the steps onto the first boat, as that was the trickiest part of the whole operation.

When the vicar came down the steps, he handed me what I thought was a thermos flask of tea - that's exactly what it looked like. As I held his arm while he stepped over the rail and onto the boat, I said, "gee vicar, we're making cups of tea for everyone on-board, you didn't have to bring your own." He said, "young lady, that is the deceased!" Gawd was I embarrassed! I was also very glad none of the family were in ear-shot. Oops!

Thankfully it was a calm, windless day and none of our passengers became sea-sick. It was such a beautiful day so we took them for a spin down the coast a ways, while they stood on deck and talked about old times. We came back up behind the castle and they had a very nice ceremony, casting flowers into the sea along with the ashes. Touching stuff. I gave the deck a good scrubbing earlier that morning and was happy to do it - gratis - for such lovely people.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I have my dads ashes here and I am now ready to let them go . I am going to put them in the Gulf of Mexico but haven't made the time to get down there this year .

I didn't spend that much time with dad for many years until the last 6 months of his life . It may sound morbid to some but it gave me comfort knowing he was here with me , but the time feels right to put them somewhere we always loved and that place is in the Gulf .

I wont be able to taunt my nieces by telling them to go play with grandad when they are here but its a small price to pay .

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

We still have my dads ashes at home too! Every year we say that we will scatter them.Its a family joke(comfort too!!!) to say he's still here keeping an eye on us!Mum is too scared to scatter them at sea as well incase they blow back as well!Dad was in navy so the sea was in his blood.We lost him a few years ago to cancer.

Fortunately, I have life insurance through work at 1x my salary - with mom as beneficiary right now (so, if I kick the bucket, she will be alright for a little bit)...

That's good, unfortunately if you leave your job for any reason, porting or converting the policy will becoming very expensive as you will no longer be paying the group rates. I converted my 5.5x salary policy when I left my previous job last year. I have the same amount of coverage at my new job. So I have about 11x salary between the two.

But the individual policy already costs 6x as much as the group policy in monthly premium. The real killer is that the individual policy rate also goes up by 5-10% every year, while the group rate changes much less. The converted individual policy costs about 14 cents per $1000 per month right now at age 36. But it would be in the $50/month per $1000 by age 60. The benefit drops in half after age 70, and ends at age 80.

I recommend long term care insirance if you are able to obtain it. Life insurance is great but what about the time before you go. Most people dont just drop, some have a long period of worsening health before they go. Long term care insurance can pay for in home care or nursing home care.

I've always considered donating my remains to a Body Farm. It's free to donate. Being HIV+ now may prevent me from doing this.

I've always told my family that they can just put me out on the curb in a garbage bag for all I care. I've also told them to go the cheapest route, ie. cremation and getting my cremains back in a baggie. I've also told my wife she can either put my urn on the mantle to intimidate her next husband, or she can spread my remains over Bermuda and celebrate by spreading herself over some young man.

I have a really modest life insurance policy.I was going to buy a flat years ago pre diagnosis...and wanted cover just in case!I phoned them when i was diagnosed and am very lucky as they will still honour my policy.

The manager of the company said that we can never know what is going to happen in life...the policy is years old.......long before my date of diagnosis......so im ok.

By the way i think that hiv or aids patients can still donate their bodies for research here in the UK.....Mum always jokes no one else would want mine re all my ops and scars!!!!!!!

I have 75k in life insurance through a NRA endorsed carrier. I also carry a supplemental insurance through the Divers Alert Network. It covers extraction via helicopters and planes to the nearest hospital for anywhere in the world. My health insurance sure doesn't cover that which is important as I SCUBA dive all over the world.